By Roy Hezron
Cabinet secretary for Education Prof George Magoha has urged the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi Prof Stephen Kiama Gitahi to maintain the current gold standards of the most prestigious university in the region.
The CS was speaking yesterday in the virtual graduation ceremony where 2,851 graduands were conferred different honors in different categories which witnessed 54 students graduate with doctorate degrees, 370 with Master’s degrees while the rest were spread along Bachelor’s degrees and Diplomas.
Magoha told the VC that he has a great task in maintaining the current standards that were left by his predecessors including himself while he was the VC for ten years.
He further stated that the university attracts excellent students because of the affluent academic faculties offered in the institutions. He, however, urged the VC to maintain the productive Professors in various faculties irrespective of their ages citing that age is just a number.
“We don’t have trainers and those who are there should be asked to remain,” added Magoha.
Recently, Prof. Kiama terminated the teaching contracts of three former Vice-Chancellors and Professors of the university in a bold move by the Institution’s Council of injecting new ideas and younger blood into the university’s lecture halls.
Those fired were; Prof Francis Gichaga, who served as the institution’s Vice-Chancellor for 11 years, Prof Shem Wandiga who was a deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administration and Finance for seven years, Prof Isaac Mbeche, a former acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Shellamiah Keya, former Vice-Chancellor at Moi University for 11 years and professor of Literature Wanjiku Kabira.
According to Prof. Kiama, the five had reached the retirement age of 70 years and were supposed to take the role of Professor Emeritus , which is a honorary title recognizing distinguished academic service which is conferred strictly on merit, and further given to fully retired professors after approval by the Vice-Chancellor.
Prof Gichaga, an engineering expert has been supervising Masters’ and PhD students in the College of Architecture and Engineering since he retired as Vice-Chancellor in 2002, while Prof Wandiga, is a Chemistry academic has been teaching at the Department of Chemistry. Prof Keya is an expert in land Resources Management and Agriculture Technology, while Prof Mbeche was based at the School of Business as a management specialist. Prof Kabira is a renowned literary scholar.
According to the university’s guidelines, a professor emeritus must be a full professor at the time of leaving service upon mandatory or voluntary retirement and must have served the institution for at least 10 years, five of which as a full professor.
Professor emeritus responsibilities include; mentorship of staff and student, supporting grant proposal development, anchoring PhD supervision and attracting and anchoring eminent guest lecturers.
The title is permanent and such academicians are full members of the senate although the position carries no statutory compensation in form of a salary. However, the holders may earn a percentage of administrative fees paid to the University for their Projects.
“The university may reimburse expenses incurred during the discharge of official assignments and if necessary university housing may be availed and a medical cover not exceeding Sh2 million per year. The holders may also be entitled to university email, office space, car parking library and clubs,” reads the guideline which are meant to be effective in the 2020/21 academic year.
